TO THE EARLY CELTS, DARKNESS WAS ASSOCIATED WITH NEW BEGINNINGS, THE POTENTIAL OF THE SEED BELOW THE GROUND, AND IN CELTIC MYTHOLOGY, THE WISDOM OF DARKNESS IS OFTEN EXPRESSED BY POWERFUL GODDESS FIGURES. A DARK GODDESS OF NATURE, PARTICULARLY IN SCOTLAND, IS THE" CAILLEACH". SHE IS THE ANCIENT EARTH HERSELF. THE BARE EARTH COVERED WITH SNOW AND FROST. SHE IS THE DEATH GODDESS, WHO LETS DIE WHAT IS NO LONGER NEEDED.

"SAMHAIN" USHERS IN THE REIGN OF THE "CAILLEACH BHEUR," THE BLUE-FACED HAG QUEEN WHO RULES OVER THE THREE MONTHS OF THE WINTER SEASON. HER NAME MEANS THE "VEILED ONE..."ONE WHO BELONGS TO THE HIDDEN WORLDS." BHEUR "MEANS "SHARP" OR "SHRILL"; HENCE,SHE PERSONIFIED THE CUTTING WINDS AND HARSHNESS OF THE NORTHERN WINTER. SHE IS REBORN ON EVERY "SAMHAIN WHEN" THE EARTH IS BEGINNING TO DIE; SHE IS THE PERSONIFICATION OF WINTER. IT IS THE "CAILLEACH" WHO RULES THE TIME BETWEEN THE LAST HARVEST AND THE BEGINNING OF SPRING WHEN HER REIGN IS BROKEN BY THE APPEARANCE OF BRIGID AND THE SACRED FIRES AT IMBOLC. SHE IS TYPICALLY DEPICTED AS A ONE-EYED OLD WOMAN WITH BAD TEETH AND MATTED HAIR.

SHE LIVES IN A CAVE BELOW THE 'MOUNTAIN OF SNOWS' AND CARRIES A MAGICAL STAFF, AND WHEN SHE STRIKES THE GRASS, IT TURNS INTO BLADES OF ICE; AND THEN, ON "BELTANE" EVE, SHE TOSSES HER STAFF UNDER A HOLLY TREE AND RETURNS TO EARTH IN THE FORM OF A GREY STONE. THE ANCESTORS SAY THAT THIS IS WHY GRASS DOES NOT GROW UNDER THE HOLLY TREES. SOME ACCOUNTS SAY THAT SHE TURNS INTO A BEAUTIFUL MAIDEN INSTEAD. SHE WAS ALSO GUARDIAN TO ANIMALS THROUGHOUT THE WINTER. THE PROTECTOR OF WOLVES AND DEER, SHE IS HONORED BY HUNTERS LOOKING TO FEED ON FRESH MEAT DURING THE DARKNESS OF THE YEAR. HER SACRED TREES ARE THE HOLLY AND THE GORSE BUSH. IN CELTIC MYTH AND LEGEND, THE HAG IS OFTEN EQUATED WITH THE SOVEREIGNTY OF THE LAND. IN A FESTIVAL KNOWN AS "REIGN OF THE OLD WOMAN", THE "CAILLEACH" IS CELEBRATED ON THIS DAY.